Pirates Get Involved: ‘Campus Groups Speak’ by Feminists United

Feminists United hosted The Campus Groups Speak March 26. The event was an opportunity for students from different organizations on campus to speak on social justice and activism.

Feminists United is a group made up of both females and males, who firmly believe in gender equality and women’s rights.

Jasmine Tolbert is the president of Feminists United, her team that attended was vice president Marisol Estrada, treasurer Emily smith, and secretary Savannah Crawford.

Tolbert said that she wanted the event to maintain an unprofessional atmosphere, so anyone that wants to come and talk about women empowerment, or equality can come on up and say something.

Tolbert started the night by reading the “The Bridge Poem” by Kate Rushin. The poem expressed how fed up the author was of being the bridge of two groups, or between people. At the end of the excerpt, the poem went on to say that the author wants to be her own bridge. She needs to find herself and better herself, before she can be the bridge to anyone else.

Emily Smith took the stage representing Go Green Armstrong with a slideshow about being more eco-friendly. Smith is the communications director for Go Green Armstrong, the only environmentalist group on campus.

Smith discussed the substantial amount of plastic and other waste being dumped in the Pacific Ocean, specifically feminine hygiene products. Tampons make up 20,000 of the estimated 4 million tons of wasteful trash dumped in the Pacific Ocean.

She informed the crowd of ways to reduce personal trash output by using applicator-less tampons and biodegradable pads. “I learned so much during the slideshow,” freshman nursing major Khayla McClinton said. “It taught me about pollution, and about tampons. It also taught me about the plastic bag campaign on Tybee. I’m so glad I came.”

President of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Noe Paramo, took the stage to discuss the Latino Greek movement. He gave a brief history description of Cubans’ and Puerto Ricans’ immigration, education, and life in the U.S.

Afterwards, Ruby Rizvi, a Feminists United member, read an original poem titled “In a Man’s World”. It conveyed the idea that women can’t win, no matter what they do, such as getting judged for covering up, and then in turn also getting judged for revealing more. The poem said that women are living in a man’s world, despite the modern times we live in, which is why we need feminism.

This led to Katie Cooper, also a Feminists United member, reading a passage she wrote about what feminism is, why we need it and the different stages a feminist goes through.

Cooper discussed the greedy feminist who only fights for rights that benefit them.

She also mentioned the stereotypical feminist who judges other women rather than trying to help them, and the limited feminist who picks and chooses what aspects of feminism they want support.

Following Cooper, Crawford, took to the stage and also read a short poem, closing the discussion on feminism.

Although much of the night was spent covering feminism and women, the topics talked about reached all ears. “I liked the variety of information that was presented,” Dontreal Thomas said. “This is stuff no one thinks or cares about, so it is exciting.”

Campus Groups Speak was an opportunity for students to come out at share their views on the world and how we can all personally do our part to make a difference.

“This event was extremely important to me. It gave a chance for other groups to come speak about positively for women, and equality,” Tolbert said.